All three offer genuine luxury at an affordable price, as well as attractive levels of equipment, top-shelf safety and – in the case of the Lexus and Mercedes – the kind of fuel economy that was pure fantasy less than a decade ago.

The Lexus not only enters this competition holding the crown but also the cheapest sticker price at $59,900 (plus on-road costs) and is the only competitor with a modern hybrid drivetrain.

The judges' praised the IS300h for its seamless transition between electric-only propulsion on light-throttle initial takeoffs and dual-motor motivation once on the move, but even though it generates more peak power than the Benz – with 164kW on tap – it lacks the kind of broad surge of pulling power that makes a turbo engine so flexible and effortless around town.

On the plus side, in concert with its seamless CVT automatic, the IS' claimed fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km was commended, as was its generous level of equipment, comfortable seats and exemplary build quality.

But the judges felt its fussy interior design was over-styled, the ride comfort was a little sharper over bumps and the fact that autonomous emergency braking – a standard feature in both the C200 and Genesis - could only be accessed as part of a $14,000 optional safety package were sore points. It also had the lowest retained value forecast over three years and while its estimated servicing cost was under $1000 over the same period, the fact that Lexus is yet to offer transparent capped-price servicing was noted.

While the IS300h is still a brilliant compact luxury car, a pair of second place votes wasn't enough to elevate it higher than third place, leaving the Genesis and C200 in a David versus Goliath battle for the class victory.

Hyundai's Genesis is an impressive first foray into the prestige sector, and the judges praised the South Korean car maker for its benchmark ownership incentives, which includes a five year warranty and free servicing for the same period, or the first 75,000km. Also for its safety, which matches the Benz's nine airbags and standard automated emergency braking yet outscores it with the highest-ever ANCAP crash-test rating.

At $71,000 (plus on-road costs) the Genesis Sensory is a lot of car for the money, offering the kind of interior space found in cars a class above its rivals here. Its leather-lined cabin is equipped with comfortable seats and plenty of creature comforts. The judges, however, agreed that the overall presentation is a step behind and the quality of some key materials are not quite at the same level as the Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.

The Genesis' larger dimensions and heavier kerb weight also brings some compromises, with the judges noting that it could not control its mass as well as the Lexus and Benz in the dynamic tests and, while it soaks up bumps with ease, it's not quite as well polished as the C200 on the open road.

It was also marked down for its 3.8-litre naturally-aspirated V6, which, despite producing the highest outputs of this trio at 232kW and 397Nm and being smooth and quiet at low engine speeds, isn't as refined in the overall scheme of things. And, even though we've recorded fuel consumption numbers under Hyundai's claimed 11.2L/100km, its thirst for unleaded could not be ignored.

In the end, the C200 walked away with the crown unopposed, scoring a unanimous victory as the top pick from all six judges.

With a starting price of $60,900 (plus on-roads), the entry-level mid-sized sedan asks why you need to spend any more on the higher-grade models as it re-sets the benchmark for its class in terms of refinement, presentation and overall dynamic abilities.

The 2.0-litre turbo charged four cylinder's 135kW/300Nm outputs are less than its rivals, but the engine feels more willing and refined than both the Lexus and Hyundai with a wider spread of pulling power that is easily accessed by its seamless seven-speed automatic. It's claimed average fuel consumption of 6.0L/100km is also more than respectable and achievable in real world conditions.

The judges all agreed that the C200's balanced chassis and precise steering offered both sure footed handling and a comfortable ride while its well-presented cabin created a genuinely luxurious ambience with a level of quality beyond its rivals.

While not as big in the back as the Genesis, it has adequate space for four adults to travel comfortably and offers the most boot space of this trio.

The judges also scored it highly for having the highest retained value forecast and the longest service intervals.

Looking purely at the numbers, the C200 sits between the Lexus and Hyundai in most areas, but clearly its victory highlights the latest-generation C-Class is far greater than the sum of its parts. And, for that, it is a more than worthy champion.